Oregon to add coach Ernie Kent, 2010 football team, 3 athletes to athletic hall of fame

A program-altering men’s basketball coach, a program-elevating football team, and three of the greatest individual athletes to ever wear a Ducks' uniform will be added to the Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in September.

Former Kamikazie Kid turned coach Ernie Kent, the 2010 football team, women’s track star Brianne Theisen-Eaton, women’s tennis record holder Daria Panova and men’s golf standout Daniel Miernicki make up the five-member class of 2022, Oregon announced Wednesday.

“The 2022 Hall of Fame class represents exceptional student-athletes and coaches who were at the forefront of a golden era in Oregon athletics,” said Oregon director of athletics Rob Mullens in a statement released by the school. “The generational accomplishments of this class encompass many of the iconic moments in the history of Oregon athletics.”

Here’s a closer look at the five inductees.

Ernie Kent, men's basketball coach, 1992-2010, and 1977 grad

As the men’s basketball coach from 1997-2010 — and first Black head coach ever at Oregon — Kent went 235-174 and was the school’s all-time win’s leader when his time at Oregon ended.

He became the first coach to lead the Ducks to five NCAA Tournaments, including two that ended in the Elite Eight. His teams also won a Pac-10 regular-season title and two conference tournaments.

Kent's rosters through the years included future NBA draft picks Luke Jackson, Luke Ridnour, Fred Jones, Aaron Brooks, Malik Hairston and Maarty Leunen.

Kent’s ties to the school went much deeper than his 13 years on the sideline at McArthur Court. The 1977 Oregon graduate averaged 7.1 points and 1.8 rebounds during a four-year basketball career with the Ducks under coach Dick Harter during the renowned “Kamikaze Kids” era.

2010 football team

The Ducks rode Chip Kelly’s Blur offense into the program’s first BCS National Championship game. Though the 22-19 loss to Auburn on a field goal as time expired gave Oregon its only loss in a 12-1 season, it was hardly a blemish for a team that established 30 individual or career records.

Oregon was ranked No. 1 nationally for much of the regular season and had victories over No. 9 Stanford, No. 20 Arizona and No. 24 USC, as well as a road win at Tennessee. The Ducks led the nation in scoring at 47 points per game and total offense at 530.7 yards per game.

They were led by first-team All-Americans LaMichael James and Cliff Harris. James won the Doak Walker award as the nation’s top running back after leading the nation in rushing (1,731 yards), rushing touchdowns (21) and points per game (12.0). Harris led the nation in passes defended and was fifth nationally with six interceptions. He also was the nation's top punt returner with an 18.8-yard average per return.

Brianne Theisen-Eaton, women's track and field, 2008-12

A seven-time NCAA champion and 10-time all-American, Theisen-Eaton’s career at Oregon ended with her holding multiple school, conference and collegiate records.

In her first NCAA outdoor championship meet as a freshman in 2009, Theisen-Eaton won the heptathlon title and set the Oregon record with 6,086 points. In her final NCAA heptathlon final as a senior in 2012, she broke the Pac-12 record held by UCLA’s Jackie Joyner-Kersee and recorded the second-most points ever by a collegian with her win in 6,440.

Overall she won three national titles in the heptathlon and three indoors in the pentathlon. In 2010 she was also on the Ducks’ 4x400 relay team that won the national title.

Theisen-Eaton left Oregon with five school records and ranked in the top 10 in 12 different events. She was twice named the USTFCCCA outdoor field athlete of the year, the USTFCCCA indoor field athlete of the year and the Pac-12 field athlete of the year.

In 2016, competing for Canada, she won a world indoor title in the pentathlon and an Olympic bronze medal in the heptathlon.

Daniel Miernicki, men’s golf, 2009-12

The only four-time all-conference player in program history, Miernicki also holds multiple school records.

He still has the best round in program history, a 10-under 62 from the opening round of the Amer Ari Invitational in the fall of 2010. His score of 62 matched the program record for lowest in a round, but his 10-under in a single round has not been matched.

Miernicki also owns the school record for most birdies in a career (563) and his career scoring average of 71.40 ranks third.

Daria Panova, women’s tennis, 2002-05

Panova will make history — again — in September when she becomes the first member of the women’s tennis program to join the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.

She holds the school record for most singles wins in her career with 94, as well the most wins in a single season with 32, which she accomplished in both 2003 and 2004.

In 2003, Panova, a two-time all-American, became the first Duck to win a Pac-10 individual title.

To be eligible for the Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame, former athletes, coaches, administrators and teams must 10-years removed from their time at Oregon.

The Class of 2022 will be inducted during a hall of fame banquet held in conjunction with the Sept. 17 home football game against BYU.

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.

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This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Ernie Kent among Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2022